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Sweden looks to Ibrahimovic for magic
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) - Already considered one of Sweden's greatest players at 24, Zlatan Ibrahimovic could well become one of the world's best. He has the size and skills.
His temperament is another matter.
The Juventus striker is a defender's nightmare
. He's tall, and he knows how to use his height. He's also a gifted dribbler, a rare talent for someone that size.
Ibrahimovic scored 16 goals in his first season with Juventus, helping the Turin team capture the Italian title last year.
But this season has been no easy ride. Critics questioned his place in the starting lineup after his scoring dried up in February after only six goals in Serie A. He then lost his place in the starting lineup to Alessandro Del Piero and didn't score again until last Sunday.
In Sweden, however, his spot as a starter is guaranteed, barring injury. He fits well with veteran striker Henrik Larsson, and there isn't any other forward who can match his skill in the Swedish attack.
"Right now, they play so well together it's dangerous whenever one of them has the ball," Trinidad and Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker said, referring to Larsson and Ibrahmimovic, whom he recruited to Ajax in 2001. "Those two guys are not just fantastic individual players, they also understand each other incredibly well."
Added Sweden coach Lars Lagerback: "Juventus have had a very tough period when things have gone badly, and then it's not easy for Zlatan, Del Piero or (David) Trezeguet to shine. If you look at Zlatan today, he is a significantly better football player than he was two years ago, when he was a success in the European Championship. He has become stronger both physically and mentally."
Born in a troubled immigrant neighborhood of Malmo to a Croatian mother and Bosnian father, Ibrahimovic is somewhat of a misfit on the homogenous Swedish team.
His me-first personality jars with Swedish traditions of teamwork, modesty and sportsmanship.
Yet the Swedish fans love him. Ibrahimovic performs tricks on the field no other player wearing the nation's yellow-and-blue jersey would even dream of.
At Euro 2004 in Portugal, his acrobatic back-heel goal in Sweden's' 1-1 draw with Italy was one of the tournament's highlights. In his last game with Ajax before joining Juve, he dribbled past four NAC Breda defenders - one of them twice - before rolling the ball past a helpless goalkeeper.
But Ibrahimovic's penchant for the spectacular can also be a liability. He is often criticized for making things too complicated, sacrificing efficiency for flair. And when the scoring dries up, as it has this season, such complaints grow louder.
The result has been a return to the moodiness that gave young Ibrahimovic a reputation as a boastful hothead who ran afoul of teammates and opponents alike when playing for Swedish club Malmo FF.
At Juventus, his reported spats with teammates, as well as coach Fabio Capello, did not improve his standing as the club saw a comfortable league lead dwindle to a few points in the last weeks of the season.
Ibrahimovic will have a chance to start anew at the World Cup, where Sweden faces England, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago in the group stage. Defenders dismiss him at their peril.
Associated Press
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